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Scissor truss question

markomarko

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Regarding my scissor truss gable end engineering plans. Is my gable end scissor truss being delivered with a flat bottom piece of lumber on it? It’s being delivered Monday and I’m trying to wrap my head around it. I circled the piece in question.
 

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markomarko

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Yes that is what I’m expecting to do. I just wasn’t sure what that was on the engineering they sent me. It was throwing me off.
 

mike93lx

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Why would there be a scissor truss on the end wall. Seems like a standard truss matching the roof line and a standard wall would be a he11 of a lot easier.
That makes it hard to properly brace the trusses and tie in the ceiling. Check out the link I provided above.

The Gable framing needs to match the ceiling profile
 

Firebrick43

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markomarko

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Another thing I just thought of. If I balloon frame, what’s keeping the exterior walls from kicking out since there’s no double top plate under the scissor truss?
 

PCustoms

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Another thing I just thought of. If I balloon frame, what’s keeping the exterior walls from kicking out since there’s no double top plate under the scissor truss?

Huh?

Double top plate isn't about walls kicking out, it's about proper load transfer from roof to wall framing.

You have 8+ feet of 2x material continuously framed up and attached to the truss, which is tied back to the rest of the roof trusses. Why would the wall "kick out"?
 

mike93lx

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Huh?

Double top plate isn't about walls kicking out, it's about proper load transfer from roof to wall framing.

You have 8' feet of 2x material continuously framed up and attached to the truss, which is tied back to the rest of the roof trusses. Why would the wall "kick out"?
And there is almost no downward load on that wall.

@markomarko it feels like you are getting way ahead of yourself on this build. You have trusses showing up but don't know how to frame the walls. How was the building designed?
 
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PCustoms

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firebirdparts

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That’s not a truss pictured, so it’s very weak. That is why you need that brace.

Just to be clear, I am intending my response to be on topic. I am not making commentary on balloon framing but rather delivery
 
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markomarko

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Thank you for all the reply guys. Me and my friend put up all my standard trusses today. I framed out the gable end rake. I ended up doubling up the 2x on the gable end overhang so the r6 will **** up to it and then the next set of 2x for the overhang will be able to catch the vinyl soffit.

My friend and I will be putting up the scissor trusses tomorrow. We did everything just the two of us with a third friend helping out halfway through the day. The first gable end was very heavy to lift but it’s all set.
 

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mike93lx

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Looks like it's time for blocking.

I'd use the same size lumber as the bottom chord of the scissor truss and mount it, aligned with the scissor truss bottom chord, to the standard truss. Tie in the bracing to that.
 

Firebrick43

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The ceiling is very much a part the system.

Bracing can be used in lieu of the ceiling diaphragm if properly placed on the lower chords. There should be a bracing diagram with the trusses unless you told the engineer you were putting in a ceiling
 
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markomarko

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How we placed the scissor after the standard. We will have to figure out how to place a ledge for the Sheetrock to catch onto on the standard truss.
 

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MongoTA

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Regarding my scissor truss gable end engineering plans. Is my gable end scissor truss being delivered with a flat bottom piece of lumber on it? It’s being delivered Monday and I’m trying to wrap my head around it. I circled the piece in question.
The part circled in red is to help the truss designer with layout, it's likely that it should have been deleted from the end drawing.
 
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